Old Testament on Foreign Policy

Old Testament

Bible gave promised land to Israel; not split with Palestine

In a rambling speech Senator James Inhofe had given in the aftermath of Sept. 11, he invoked his religious fervor when he proclaimed, of the war on terror, "Make no mistake about it, this war is first and foremost a spiritual war."

He went on to speak
of the West Bank and Gaza, and insisted that Israel must never yield this "promised land" to Palestinians. Why? "Because God said so," Senator Inhofe declared. "In Genesis, the Bible says: 'The Lord said to Abram, "Lift up now your eyes for all the land
which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed forever."

"This is God talking," the senator said. "This is not a political battle at all. It is a contest over whether or not the Word of God is true." Senator Inhofe believes the
Palestinians have no claim to the West Bank and Gaza. Certainly some Christians who read the Bible as literally as Jim Inhofe believe God would be pleased to see Israel negotiate with its Palestinian brothers and sisters and share the Promised Land.